More than 100 Companies & Organizations call for Policy Action for PV Manufacturing in Europe

Hanau, Brussels, Orlando (ots) - SOLARUNITED - Yesterday's
announcement of Solar World implies that the company could have found
an investor but will reduce its workforce by approximately 1200
positions. It shows how key policy actions are needed to prevent the
PV manufacturing industry from disappearing in Europe.

Solar photovoltaics (PV) is a key enabling technology of strategic
importance for the EU economy, providing energy independence,
industrial jobs, and economic growth. It is inspiring a generation of
young people, engineers, and scientists and is hugely popular with
the general public. For more than two decades, Europe has been the
driving force in technological development, state-of-the-art
manufacturing (industry 4.0), sustainable production, and
high-efficiency solar products. Even with the emergence of huge
overcapacities outside of Europe, the EU value chain starting from
raw materials to equipment to complete PV systems have successfully
remained intact until now.

To maintain at least some significant presence in Europe of every
step in the production of a PV system, including cell manufacturing,
researchers and manufacturers request immediate action from EU
policymakers and national governments. 100 organizations, including
manufacturing companies, equipment manufacturers, research centers
and trade associations active in all segments of the PV industrial
value chain issued this call in June. The open letter that they
co-signed proposed a series of measures that public bodies can take,
including relaxing state aid rules to adjust the levels of support
given to PV manufacturing in Europe to the levels given to
manufacturers in other regions of the world.

The European PV Technology and Innovation Platform for
Photovoltaics (ETIP-PV), the Global PV Industry & Technology
Association (SOLARUNITED) and the Association of European Renewable
Energy Research Centres (EUREC) are planning the next steps to build
on the momentum created by the letter. EU PROSUN supports this
initiative.

Together with the support of a unique R&D ecosystem, we believe in
the ability of the EU PV manufacturing industry to retain its
significant technological lead over companies outside Europe.

SOLARUNITED Background

Formally known as the International Photovoltaic Equipment
Association (IPVEA)

Sharing best practices, providing international insights, and
working with local and global partners- SOLARUNITED provides its
members access to world-class resources and the ability to understand
and engage in markets of all sizes.

SOLARUNITED is also a founding member of the Global Solar Council
and international SOLARUNITED partners with groups, R&D Centers, and
a leading exhibition to help foster global information sharing and
collaboration.

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Contact:
Bernhard Krause, Phone: [phone], Mobile: [phone]